RELEASE focuses on supporting the judiciary (including judges, investigative judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers and other legal practitioners) in the EU Member States, particularly those located in Eastern Europe, to enhance the cooperation between competent authorities on the matter of pre-trial detention and facilitate the establishment of a common approach on the matter in this area. The activities to be conducted under the project will not only result in the identification of best practices and working methods but also facilitate the establishment of mutual trust between the partner Member States. The project will start by conducting data collection activities with an emphasis on empirical research. Apart from analysing case law, questionnaires will be distributed amongst relevant stakeholders in the partner countries in order to be identified any gaps and needs. The next step will be the practical cooperation between the judiciaries which will be done by exchange of good practices and mutual learning activities. These events will be both national workshops and international seminars so that the collaboration between the target groups is supported at different levels. Based on the points above, RELEASE will elaborate a Handbook with good practices and practical alternatives and a Policy Brief. The Handbook will include separate parts for the different target groups such as lawyers, judges, prosecutors, consisting of good practices identified by the research and the participants. The Policy Brief will aim to increase the awareness amongst policy makers regarding the issues related to pre-trial detention and possible alternatives for resolving them. Both will be presented at the RELEASE conference, which will further support the establishing of effective cooperation between the target groups and will further disseminate the results of the project.
Partner organisations:
Law and Internet Foundation LIF
Adam Mickiewicz University AMU
The Center for Security Studies (Kentro Meleton Asfaleias – KEMEA),
Hellenic Ministry of Justice GMJ
The Slovak National Centre for Human Rights (SNCHR)
Project is funded by European Union Justice Programme (JUST)
